LITTLE FALLS, NJ – NJIT and Maine split Saturday's America East Conference doubleheader at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Highlanders used a three-run sixth inning to take the opener, 6-3, before the Black Bears earned a 4-2 victory in the nightcap.
Game One | NJIT 6, Maine 3 (7)
NJIT broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning and pulled away with a three-run sixth to secure the 6-3 win. The Highlanders finished with eight hits, including four doubles, while the pitching staff combined for eight strikeouts over seven innings.
Maine opened the scoring in the second inning on a groundout, but NJIT answered in the third. Sheehan O'Connor drew a walk and Ty Sallie reached on a fielder's choice before Austin Francis singled to move Sallie to third. Lorenzo Camilleri followed with a sacrifice fly to even the score at 1-1.
The Highlanders took the lead for good in the fourth. Rowin O'Connor singled and later scored on a double by Brody Levin. An error allowed Levin to come home, giving NJIT a 3-1 advantage.
NJIT added insurance in the sixth inning. Rowin O'Connor doubled and scored on a Jack Stead double to left. Levin added a sacrifice fly and Sheehan O'Connor capped the rally with an RBI single, extending the lead to 6-1.
Maine pushed across two runs in the seventh, but NJIT held on for the 6-3 victory.
Mark Scamardella turned in a strong outing, tossing 6.2 innings with eight strikeouts. Becker Sybirski recorded the final two outs to earn his second save of the season.
Rowin O'Connor led the offense with two hits and two runs scored, including a double. Stead added two doubles and an RBI, while Levin drove in two runs.
Game Two | Maine 4, NJIT 2
Maine used the long ball to claim the nightcap, hitting three home runs in a 4-2 win.
The Black Bears struck first in the third inning with a two-run homer for a 2–0 lead. NJIT's Camilleri responded in the bottom half with a solo home run to right, cutting the deficit to 2–1.
Maine added another solo homer in the fourth to extend its lead to 3–1.
NJIT pulled within one in the sixth. Francis singled and stole second before Cole Campbell delivered an RBI double to make it 3-2.
The Black Bears added an insurance run in the eighth on their third solo home run of the game to push the lead to 4-2. NJIT was unable to rally over the final two innings.
Tade Riordan (2–5) took the loss, allowing two runs over three innings. Anthony Anzaldi provided 3.2 innings of relief, striking out three, while Sybirski closed with 2.1 innings and two strikeouts.
Camilleri paced NJIT with a home run and an RBI. Francis collected two hits, scored a run, and added a stolen base, while Campbell finished with two hits, including a double, and an RBI.
NJIT totaled eight hits, including three doubles, but Maine's three home runs proved to be the difference.
Next Up
NJIT returns to action Tuesday, hosting Hofstra in a midweek non-conference matchup at 6 p.m. at Yogi Berra Stadium.
